Brad Stevens, the new head coach of Butler University basketball, is welcomed by President Dr. Bobby Fong (right) at the start of the press conference naming Stevens into the head coaching position on Thursday, March 5, 2007 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. (Matt Detrich / The Indianapolis Star) Matt Detrich, Indianapolis Star

Coach Brad Stevens talks with the media. The Butler basketball team returned to Hinkle Fieldhouse Sunday March 20, 2011 after flying back from their win in Washington D. C. over Pittsburgh in the NCAA tournament on March 19. Rob Goebel/The Star. Rob Goebel

Butler's Brad Stevens thanks the crowd after cutting down the net. In NCAA Mens Basketball West Region Elite 8 round the #5 seed Butler mens basketball team defeated the #2 seed Kansas State mens basketball team 63-56 at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, March 27, 2010. Butler now advances to Indianapolis to play in the Final Four. (Sam Riche / The Indianapolis Star) Sam Riche, USAT

Heidi Shackelford, left, from Melchior Marionettes and Peewinkle's Puppet Studio in Indianapolis, entertains children in the Family Fun Zone at the 2011 Coaches' Huddle Basketball Tournament in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 7, 2011, including Brady and Kinsley Stevens, 5 and 2 respectively. Kinsley sits on the lap of her father, Brad Stevens, Butler University's mens basketball coach. Stevens and his wife Tracy served as co-chairs for the event, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. Cancer took the life of Tracy's mother. Charlie Nye / The Star. Charlie Nye

Butler head coach Brad Stevens steps onto the basketball court at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN, April 01, 2010 for the first game of the Final Four Butler University vs. Michigan State. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star) Robert Scheer

The Grand Marshal Butler Bulldogs, runner-up in the 2010 NCAA Final Four basketball championship, wave to the crowd from their float in the IPL 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 29, 2010. In upper left is head coach Brad Stevens. (Charlie Nye / The Star). Charlie Nye

Knight came out before he was introduced and joined Stevens at the podium. Former Indiana University basektball coach Bob Knight spoke at Clowes Hall on the Butler campus Wednesday September 14, 2011. He was introduced by Butler head basketball coach Brad Stevens, left. Rob Goebel/The Star. Rob Goebel

New Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens stands on the Celtics emblem at half-court following a news conference where he was introduced Friday, July 5, 2013, at the NBA basketball team's training facility in Waltham, Mass. Stevens twice led the Butler Bulldogs to the NCAA title game. He replaces Doc Rivers, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds) Josh Reynolds, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 10, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) David Zalubowski, AP

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42), from the Dominican Republic, and head coach Brad Stevens talk in the first half of game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series against the Washington Wizards, Friday, May 12, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Alex Brandon, AP

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, right, talks with people after a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens instructs his team during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, May 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) Michael Dwyer, AP

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens instructs his team during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, May 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) Michael Dwyer, AP

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and head coach Brad Stevens react against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Mitchell Leff, Getty Images

May 13, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter in game one of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports David Butler II, David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 22, 2018; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts following a call during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks in game four of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Jeff Hanisch, Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Stevens is in the crowded conversation for NBA Coach of the Year. The Boston Celtics are in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and they got there without their two best players -- Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, who are injured.

The Celtics have lost other players for a short time along the way, and Jaylen Brown is currently out with a hamstring issue.

Yet the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the East and appear poised to make the conference finals.

What would Veasley know? He was one of Stevens' role players during their 2010 run to the national championship game, which ended with Hayward's oh-so-close, half-court miss against Duke at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Butler also reached the 2011 national championship game.

"It wasn't just by accident that we made it to back-to-back national championships." said valued role player Shawn Vanzant.

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Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, right, talks with people after a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens signs autographs after a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, center, poses for a photo with Boys & Girls Clubs of Zionsville Youths of the Year Janiah Holloway, left, and Wesley Hopkins during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, center, talks with Boys & Girls Clubs of Zionsville Youths of the Year Janiah Holloway, left, and Wesley Hopkins during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, center, listens during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, center, answers questions from kids, read by Rob Schein, left, and Chip Barnes, right, during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Annabel Carter gathers question cards from people during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where Stevens played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Stevens answered questions from kids at the fundraiser. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, center, answers questions from kids, read by Rob Schein, left, and Chip Barnes, right, during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

A person takes a photo during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where Stevens played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens answers questions from kids during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens answers questions from kids during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Autographed basketballs are gathered during a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where Stevens played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, right, talks with kids after a fundraiser at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville West, Saturday, August 12, 2017. Coach Stevens returned for a keynote answer and question session at the breakfast fundraiser which benefited the Zionsville Boys & Girls Clubs where he played basketball while growing up in Zionsville. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

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Bulldogs players and assistant coaches related Stevens' approach, such as common early-morning practices, before classes.

Grant Leiendecker on those practices in a chilly Hinkle Fieldhouse: "We could literally see our breath. Our guys were playing in long sleeves and leggings like everyone does now. But it wasn't to look cool. It was to stay warm."

What Veasley recalled about practices: "Short, precise and to the point."

Game preparation was a Stevens specialty, according to then-assistant coach Matthew Graves.

"He valued and understood that most games come down to two or three possessions," said Graves, who is now an Evansville assistant.